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Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways The next iPad Mini is rumored to feature an OLED display and improved water resistance.The smallest Apple tablet could also get a $100 price hike.Apple might bring the OLED display to the MacBook Air by 2028. The iPad Mini is my favorite Apple tablet for its size. It is small enough to pack alongside my laptop and powerful enough to rekindle my love for photo editing. But for the last two generations, I've wished for Apple to provide a better screen, as the smudgy LCD panel isn't ideal for reading or color accuracy. That could finally happen next year. Also: How the new iPad Mini renewed my love for photo editing According to a recent Bloomberg report from Mark Gurman, the iPad Mini could get an OLED panel as soon as next year. It also goes on to say that Apple plans to gradually roll out OLED displays to the iPad Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air over the years. However, an OLED-equipped MacBook Air "isn't likely" to launch before 2028. For reference, the 2024 iPad Pro was the first Apple tablet to feature an OLED display, and it's surprising that the upgrade will trickle down to the iPad Mini ahead of the iPad Air lineup. Why an OLED iPad Mini makes so much sense I'm excited for an OLED iPad Mini because my tablet use cases include browsing, editing photos, reading, and watching videos -- in that order of priority. I've written before how the iPad Mini is the perfect combination of form and function for me. The iPhone is suitable for browsing, but not for editing, while the larger iPads are ideal for editing, but not for reading. That's why the iPad Mini has earned a permanent place in my travel backpack. Also: I've tested every iPad model - here's why I recommend the Mini to most people Unlike the iPad Air, it is comfortable to hold for long durations without straining my wrists. I can read a Kindle eBook, browse through my subscribed publications, and edit my travel photos on Lightroom without feeling the need to put it down. I love its paperback book-like size; it's thin, small, and portable enough to carry wherever I want. It is an excellent travel companion. According to Gurman, Apple wants to make the next iPad Mini fully waterproof by redesigning its casing and adding "a new speaker system that uses vibration-related technology" instead of traditional speaker holes. If durability is a concern, I hope Apple can also borrow the improved fingerprint-resistant coating from the iPhone 17 series and incorporate it into the OLED iPad Mini, as the current-generation version is prone to fingerprints. Also: The 5 best iPads of 2025: We've tested every iPad available - these are the best ones The upcoming iPad Mini is also reportedly set to receive a $100 price hike, which would raise its starting price to $ 799. It'd put the small Apple tablet (likely powered by an A-series chipset) on par with the 11-inch M3 iPad Air, which is currently available for $559 on Amazon. You'll have a choice between a smaller tablet with a less powerful processor but an OLED display, or opting for an LCD screen with an M-series chipset in a larger form factor. It'll be interesting to see how the two iPads fare against each other at a similar price. Apple's OLED upgrade is slated to roll out to more products over a span of next three years. The OLED iPad Mini launch is reportedly followed by a touchscreen MacBook Pro with an OLED display later in the year. It is speculated to be followed by the iPad Air and MacBook Air. That said, the MacBook Air , planned for spring 2026, is likely to continue featuring an LCD screen.
